Detectives Seek Possible Witnesses to Ventura Park Area Kidnapping

The Portland Police Bureau is seeking possible witnesses and information related to a reported kidnapping that took place on May 2, 2013, at about 4:30 p.m., in the vicinity of Ventura Park, located near Southeast 113th Avenue and Stark Street.

The victim, a 16-year-old female, notified police about the incident during the afternoon of May 3, 2013, and Missing Persons Unit detectives were brought in to investigate. Detectives would like to stress that no one related to this incident is currently missing. The Missing Persons Unit is also responsible for investigations related to reported kidnapping or abduction incidents.

The victim reported that she had been walking home alone from David Douglas High School, between approximately 4:00 - 4:30 p.m., on Thursday, May 2. She reported having noticed a plain white, cargo-style panel van, with a sliding, rear passenger-side door, but no windows on the rear sides of the van, with a single occupant male driving the vehicle.

The victim reported that after she had turned to walk northbound on 113th from Stark, towards Burnside, a man surprised her, coming up behind her on foot, without her having noticed him. The man reportedly grabbed the female from behind and pulled her towards the same van she had seen nearby, which was now parked facing the wrong way, northbound, on the west side of 113th, across from Ventura Park.

As soon as the victim was able to see the male suspect, she recognized him as the driver of the van.

The suspect is described a dark-skinned, possibly Hispanic male, 35-40 years old, approximately 5'7", with a medium build and short, black, buzz-cut hair. He was unshaven, and was wearing a dark-colored T-shirt, and had multiple tattoos covering both his forearms. He did not speak much, but was described as having spoken in English, with a slight foreign accent.

The suspect forced the victim into his waiting van, and drove off, northbound along 113th, to East Burnside Street, where, upon seeing a police car pass by, the suspect ordered the victim out of the vehicle, as he drove off eastbound on Burnside.

The victim, who was physically unharmed, is continuing to cooperate with police, and detectives have been out canvassing in the area, for possible witnesses or recorded surveillance video. At this time, detectives have no reason to believe this incident was in any way directly related to David Douglas High School.

Anyone who may have witnessed any portion of this incident, or who may have information related to this investigation, is asked to contact Detective Mike Weinstein, at (503) 823-0446 or Mike.Weinstein@portlandoregon.gov.